edWeb.net launches online community of practice to support new teachers

By Jeff Festa

May 25th, 2011

edWeb.net, a professional social network for the education community, has announced a new online professional learning community designed for new teachers, called “New Teacher Help.” With standardized testing, emerging technologies, reduced budgets, and increased accountability, there is a sense of urgency for new teachers to develop the skills necessary to survive and thrive in the classroom; New Teacher Help will present a series of monthly webinars to help novice teachers quickly learn these skills. Webinar topics will include dealing with difficult parents, making a good first impression, classroom management tips, and more. The online community also provides tools to help new teachers collaborate, get to know each other, and create an ongoing support network. These tools include a blog, live chats and discussions, a shared calendar, a document library, a wiki, bookmarks, and messaging. The free monthly webinars and live chats are presented by Shannon Holden, who has been a middle and high school teacher and administrator for 20 years and speaks frequently on the subject of reducing the high attrition rate for new teachers. http://www.edweb.net/newteacherhelp